Nearly a month after the Punjab government officially declared Amritsar's historic walled city a 'Holy City' and imposed a ban on the sale and consumption of meat, liquor, and tobacco, the ambitious order appears to exist largely in official files rather than on the ground. The notification, issued on December 15, aimed to uphold the spiritual sanctity of the area surrounding the Golden Temple. However, residents and traders report a conspicuous absence of enforcement, leading to widespread scepticism and whispers of a burgeoning black market.
Official Notification Meets On-Ground Reality
The state government's directive was clear: to preserve the sacred character of the core city. Yet, beyond the initial announcements, there has been little visible action. The administration has provided no clear blueprint on how it plans to monitor private homes and shops, a point of major contention among the local populace. "How will they stop what happens inside private spaces?" questioned a local trader, summing up the dominant sentiment. Officials, including Assistant Commissioner for excise and taxation, D S Cheema, state that enforcement will rely on public awareness and raids against bootleggers, noting that no new bar licenses have been issued in the zone.
Practical Hurdles and Fear of Underground Trade
The practical challenges of enforcing such a blanket ban are immense. As residents point out, a liquor bottle can be concealed in a scooter's boot, a small quantity hidden in a pocket, and tobacco products can easily pass unnoticed. The logistical nightmare of frisking every entrant or patrolling homes makes the ban seem unworkable. This vacuum of effective enforcement has sparked fears that the policy will not eliminate the targeted products but will simply drive the trade underground, making it more lucrative. Ravinder Singh, a local resident, expressed a common worry: "This will lead to corruption. When rules are hard to enforce, they create scope for bribes and selective action."
Stakeholders Admit Discreet Sales and Lobbying
Interviews with various stakeholders reveal a stark picture. Several kiryana shop owners, speaking off the record, admitted they plan to continue selling tobacco discreetly. Meat vendors are expected to adopt similar clandestine methods. While health officials have prepared a list of 110 tobacco vendors for the administration, they clarify that enforcement is not their responsibility. Meanwhile, municipal officials acknowledge that those affected by the ban are actively lobbying for more time to adjust to the new rules.
For now, the administration insists the Holy City notification is a step toward preserving Amritsar's spiritual essence. But the current reality tells a different story: no significant raids, no visible checks, and no transparent plan. As the gap between policy and practice widens, the biggest concern for Amritsar's walled city is not sanctity, but the risk of it transforming into a hub for an underground market—fueled by persistent demand, secrecy, and the potential for corruption.
